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Nutrient runoff affects waterways in 50 states and globally.
We demonstrate leadership in improving farm nutrient runoff methods to promote positive steps towards restoring the health and wellbeing of our waterways.
Harmful algal blooms give off “the smell of decay and death” – Beth Stauffer
Unfortunately, wetlands cannot hold massive amounts of nutrient runoff from heavy rainfalls. Overflow entering waterways at non-point sources are creating harmful algae blooms on lakes and coastlines. Thue are worsening every year affecting fishing swimming, tourism, real estate values, local economies and are health risk to humans and animals.
“Heavy rains and melting snows washed massive amounts of nutrients – particularly nitrogen and phosphorus – from lawns, sewage treatment plants, farm land and other sources along the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico,” according to the Nature Conservancy. “Once in the Gulf, these nutrients, which are required for plant and crop growth, trigger algae blooms that choke off oxygen in water and make it difficult, if not impossible, for marine life to survive.”

According to the USEPA, 68% of Americans rely on surface water (lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams) for their drinking water supply. The USEPA 2012 National Lakes Assessment https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/nla found that 39% of lakes sampled had microcystin, an increase of 9.5% over the 2007 survey. Although microcystin and other algae toxins (anatoxin, saxitoxin, cylindrospermopsin, etc.) are not currently regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, they are on EPA’s Contaminant Candidate List and are listed in the Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR4), which bodes well for future regulation.
Algae blooms, HABs and toxic algae are affecting waterways and waterbodies in 50 states and globally. They affect fishing, swimming, tourism, real estate values and are a health risk to humans and animals. They are an increasing threat to lakes, reservoirs and drinking water. They thrive in nitrogen and phosphorus-rich environments. As they increase every year, chronic toxins are produced causing lake and beach closures and associated degradation of property values. Airborne toxins can be detected for up to a mile away from impacted water bodies affecting coastal and golf communities.
After decades of research, testing and monitoring, the National Algae Association receives requests from state representatives, counties, algae task forces, lake, bay, coastal management and homeowner’s associations looking for real solutions. They are only interested in technologies proven outside the lab, scalable and economically feasible claiming decades of research, testing and monitoring alone have not fixed any of these devastating water quality problems.
Algae blooms and HAB problems are devastating canals, lakes, marinas, coastlines and reservoirs. Join nutrient stewardship farmers and algae bloom/remediation technologies as they combat the worsening nutrient runoff in collaboration at farm-edges.
New Algae and Nutrient Stewardship Agriculture Pilot Tests
I. On Location Nutrient Runoff Capture, Recycling and Repurposing Pilot Tests
NAA is facilitating pilot tests at 1-5 acre farm-edge drainage sites. A collaboration between nutrient stewardship crop farmers and algae production technologies, capturing nutrient runoff effluents at non-point sources, before entering waterways. Using mapping technologies to collect rainfall data, lab support to test and monitor algae growth, harvesting rates, permits, implementation and installation of various technologies. Grants available.
II. On Board Algae Bloom and HAB Remediation Technology Pilot Tests
Capture, Removal, Recycling and Repurposing
Recycling clean water back to the waterbody and repurposing of algae blooms and HAB biomass using slow-moving boats. vessels, tankage with filtration on waterways and waterbodies. Bringing tonnage of biomass ashore to mobile decentralized dewatering and cleaning for potential products. See examples below. Grants available!
Note: NAA’s Science and Chemistry Committee only review algae bloom, HAB, toxic algae and ride tide y tyechnologies proven outside the lab, scalable and economically feasible for different types of waterways and waterbodies that can be deployed today! NDA’s are available. Join the new Algae Navy being formed to combat algae blooms, HABs and toxic algae on waterbodies in your state.
Contact: barry@nationalalgaeassociation.org